THERE used to be a chant at Anfield which announced that Liverpool were the proud possessors of “the best midfield in the world!” Back then, it didn’t seem such a fanciful claim.

After all, in those days Rafa Benitez’s Reds could call upon the vast and varied talents of Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Momo Sissoko at any one time.

Four years on, three of those four have gone.

Alonso is setting the tempo for Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid, Sissoko’s career has taken him via Juventus to big-spending Paris St Germain, while Mascherano is collecting trophies at Barcelona. As a centre-back.

Gerrard, of course, remains. But the Liverpool captain has not kicked a ball in anger since the beginning of March, and faces at least another fortnight out of action with his persistent groin problem.

In his absence, Kenny Dalglish’s reshaped side has started the new Premier League campaign in impressive style.

The anti-climax of the opening-day draw with Sunderland has been forgotten, as the Reds disposed of both Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers to top the league table – albeit briefly – for the first time since May 2009, when Benitez’s side came agonisingly close to reaching its Everest.

And while it would take a brave Kopite to revive the chant of 2007, there is no doubt that Liverpool’s new-look midfield has been, and will be, key if they are to make a swift return to the upper echelons of English football this season.

Against Bolton Wanderers both Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam opened their Anfield accounts following summer transfers.

More importantly, both turned in their most impressive performances to date in a Red shirt, displaying the qualities which convinced Dalglish to part with more than £20m of the club’s cash for them.

Henderson’s energy and drive was evident as early as the seventh minute, as his first-time pass set free another impressive new acquisition, Stewart Downing.

Downing’s heavy touch denied him a chance to break his own duck, but the tone was set.

Henderson’s start to Anfield life has been more simplistic than spectacular, but his opening goal, curled into Jussi Jääskeläinen’s top-right hand corner after quarter of an hour, bucked the trend.

That it came via his weaker left-foot made it all the more impressive.

The 21-year-old was clearly given license to roam across the park and, like Gerrard before him, seemed to relish the freedom.

Coming deep and wide to collect possession, his passing was always tidy, and he showed plenty of ambition to get forward in support of his forwards. He deserved his ovation when replaced by Maxi Rodriguez fourteen minutes from time.

Alongside him in midfield, Adam was enjoying an equally productive afternoon.

The former Blackpool man’s passing scope is well known and he displayed evidence of it here with one sumptuous ball which forced Jaaskelainen to save at the feet of Luis Suarez, who was again nigh-on unplayable.

More impressive, however, was how he and Lucas Leiva – who made a strong case for Man of the Match – simply bossed the centre of the park.

Their passing was crisp and accurate, their tackling sharp and clean, whilst they appeared to take turns to nullify the sizeable aerial threat of Kevin Davies.

It was credit to the duo, along with the impeccable Daniel Agger, that the Bolton skipper was withdrawn from the action after 70 anonymous minutes.

Dalglish spoke afterwards of how he now has a “really strong squad” at his disposal, and the fruits of his transfer dealings are clear for all to see.

Andy Carroll, the club’s most expensive ever signing, was left out here, while the likes of Gerrard and Raul Meireles were on the injured list.

That Alberto Aquilani, an Italian international and a man who once cost the Reds £17m, was last week sent out on loan because Dalglish “couldn’t find a way to get him into the team” says plenty about the options at the Scot’s disposal.

Of course one swallow doesn’t make a summer, and nor do two Premier League wins.

Dalglish knows a long, hard season awaits as Liverpool attempt to stand up to the significant challenge posed by the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and the vaunted Manchester duo.

But the foundations, clearly, are there.

The club’s best start to a season since 1994 has been achieved despite a substantial overhaul, and the signs are that Liverpool will get better and better as the campaign progresses.

He may not have the ‘best midfield in the world’, but Dalglish, just eight months into his Anfield second-coming, is making the big boys sit up and take notice again.